Badgers Vs Solihull Blossomfield

Solihull Blossomfield 1 v 0 Yardley Badgers

Yardley had a ten-minute warm up in beautiful sunshine and were all switched on when the whistle blew. No rushing into positions and well prepared from the off. The first half for the visitors was the best team play the Yardley Badgers have produced all season and put the hosts on the back foot for long periods of the half. This resulted in six penalty corners which kept the pressure at the right end of the pitch. Solihull did test the visitors’ keeper but the adult saved the three attempts. The pressure at  the other end didn't result in a deserved lead as the adult defender in Solihull’s team snuffed out our attempts. But our interlinking play through a congested midfield to attack was accurate and progressive. The solid back- line of Edan, Ethan and Jack put in a tremendous display protecting the keeper throughout the game. They all made brilliant tackles and were composed taking the “16” hits. Going into the break the Yardley Badgers were all pleased with the performance but disappointed not to be in the lead.

Second half was a more even affair as the work rate of our bare eleven (no subs) gradually resulted in tired legs. Sean was our Man of the Match as he was the king pin in the centre midfield, getting involved in almost every move. Zak on the right wing got a knock early on but he bravely soldiered on and eventually recovered to balance our shape and was helping the defence when the opponents drifted passed him. Barakah the other Yardley central midfielder orchestrated the midfield line and broke up the Solihull play with continuous great timed tackles winning the ball back for the team. Shamikh the wide left player was again showing improvements and his runs down the line is encouraging for the future. John our second adult played a little higher up the field this week and had to cover much more ground than normal (sorry John). Wahaj made up our final midfield slot and he again put in a solid performance getting in the “D” at every opportunity. His tackling was immense and it stifled Solihull's play consistently. Dawood our sole striker was having a brilliant game and he played his heart out. Tackling and pressuring the home teams defensive line. He drifted from the striker’s role a little but his enthusiasm was impressive to watch

The longer the half wore on, the more chances Solihull got. Winning penalty corners and cranking up the pressure. Yardley were on the back foot in the final fifteen minutes. Tired legs eventually told and from a skirmish from the top of the “D” a Solihull striker got a shot away. It passed through two defenders surprising the keeper who up to then had nothing to do in the second half. So-surprised by the shot it crept between the keeper’s arm and body. Yardley pushed hard with five minutes left with two strikers high in the home team’s “D”, trying hard to get a just result . Chances came but the home team adult still blocked the visitors’ chances. A great team display with every individual contributing to the effort.